Kees Smit (born 21 January 2006) is a Dutch footballer who plays for Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar as a midfielder.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 January 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Heiloo, The Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | AZ | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | AZ Alkmaar | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | AZ | 1 | (0) |
| 2023– | Jong AZ | 42 | (6) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021 | Netherlands U16 | 6 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Netherlands U17 | 7 | (0) |
| 2023– | Netherlands U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024– | Netherlands U19 | 7 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2024 | |||
Career
editFrom Heiloo, Smit joined the academy at AZ Alkmaar at nine years-old in 2015. He then became the youngest member of their under-12 squad.[2] After progressing through the ranks at AZ, he signed a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in January 2021.[3][4]
In December 2022, Smit was included with the first team squad on their mid-season break travelling training party to Valencia, Spain.[5] In January 2023, a goal Smit scored in a five-a-side indoor game went viral due to its unusual nature, as he beat the outrushing goalkeeper with shot rebounded from the side wall.[6][7][8] Later that month, Smit made his professional debut for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie in a home match against Helmond Sport, on January 23, 2023.[9][10]
With AZ under-19s playing in the UEFA Youth League he was part of the team that beat Barcelona and Real Madrid on consecutive rounds to reach the semi-finals in March 2023.[11][12][13] Smit scored a long range goal in the UEFA Youth League last-sixteen tie against Barcelona that brought praise.[14][15][16] He also played in the UEFA Youth League final against Hajduk Split as AZ ran out 5-0 winners.[17]
He made his UEFA Europa League debut for AZ Alkmaar on 7 November 2024 in a 3-1 home win against Fenerbahçe, scoring the second goal and being credited with an assist for the third.[18]
International career
editIn November 2021, Smit played for the Netherlands national under-16 football team against the Belgian under-16s.[19] Smit has since been selected for the Dutch U17s.[20][21]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 10 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Jong AZ | 2022–23 | Eerste Divisie | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | Eerste Divisie | 29 | 2 | — | — | — | 29 | 2 | ||||
| 2024–25 | Eerste Divisie | 9 | 4 | — | — | — | 9 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 42 | 6 | — | — | — | 42 | 6 | |||||
| AZ | 2024–25 | Eredivisie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Career total | 43 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 7 | ||
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
References
edit- ^ "Kees Smit". Soccerway. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Speler van de Maand: Kees Smit". az.nl. November 18, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Kees Smit signs first contract with AZ". deforesters.nl. February 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "AZ bindt Smit". January 29, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "AZ geeft talenten weer de kans: zestienjarige mee op trainingskamp". vi.nl. December 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "AZ jeugdspeler Smit steelt show bij 5 tegen 5-toernooi met déze slimme goal". sportnieuws.nl. January 9, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Smit rough edges Brilliant goal from Alkmaar youth player in the hall". 11freunde.de. January 9, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Hörmann, Daniel (January 9, 2023). "Video: Freches Tor über Bande bei Jugendhallenturnier". Fumsmagazin. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Brinkman, Erik -Jan (January 27, 2023). "Double feeling for Young AZ talent Kees Smit after special week: "Boy's dream"". nhnieuws.nl. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "AZ II VS. HELMOND 1-1". Soccerway. January 23, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Daniël Beukers klopt met AZ Barcelona". March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ "El AZ Alkmaar repite la misma receta para dejar fuera al Madrid". besoccer.com. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ "Lewis Schouten en Daniël Breukers smaakmakers bij Youth League/sensatie". telegraaf.nl. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ "Youth League: The incredible goal of the central circle of Kees Smit which surprises Barça!". beinsports.com. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Van Poppel, Jeroen (March 1, 2023). "Kees Smit enchants Johan Cruijff stadium with an unparalleled goal against Barcelona". Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Wondergoal! AZ-talent Kees Smit (17) schiet vanuit middencirkel raak tegen FC Barcelona in Youth League". sportnieuws.nl. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "UEFA Youth League final report: AZ Alkmaar 5-0 Hajduk Split". UEFA.com. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ "Effective AZ thanks in part to 18-year-old star Smit past Fenerbahçe: 3-1". Nos.nl. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ "Oefeninterlands, seizoen 2021/22". onsoranje.nl. November 23, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Connor (January 8, 2023). "This is one of the most satisfyingly inventive indoor goals ever". the18.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Update: zeven AZ'ers in voorlopige selectie Oranje Onder 17". az.nl. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
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